Re:zero to Echidna

The parasol's shadow no longer felt like shelter—it was a cage. Subaru lay with his head pillowed on Echidna's thighs, her fingers idly tracing the shell of his ear. The same fake sun glared down, the same sterile breeze tousled the same unchanging grass. He stared at his hand, raised toward the sky, fingers flexing as if to crush the illusion.

*"What are you reaching for, darling?"* Echidna's voice dripped with false warmth. She caught his wrist, her grip deceptively gentle, and brought his palm to her lips. *"There's nothing up there but my generosity."*

Subaru didn't look at her. "Generosity. Right." He sat up abruptly, her hands falling away like dead leaves. "Change the scenery. I've relooped a hundred thousand times. Even hell should get a renovation."

Echidna tilted her head, her smile sharp enough to draw blood. *"Bored of me already? How cruel."* But the garden rippled, the sky bleeding from blue to the bruised purple of a Lugnican dusk. Subaru didn't thank her. Gratitude was currency here, and he was bankrupt.

***

The alley stank of piss and desperation. Subaru leaned against the wall, counting the seconds until the thieves appeared. They did—right on schedule—their knives glinting with performative menace. He let them corner him, let their laughter scrape against his bones. *Hurry up, Emilia.*

Her voice cut through the gloom like moonlight. "Leave him alone!"

Subaru slumped in relief he didn't feel. Emilia's silver hair glowed as she stepped forward, Puck materializing on her shoulder. The thieves fled; the script held. But Subaru didn't play his part. No theatrics. No *"I'm Natsuki Subaru!"* Just a hollow stare as he brushed dirt off his jacket.

"You're… not scared?" Emilia frowned, her lilac eyes narrowing.

"I've seen worse." He turned away. "Follow me. There's something you'll want."

He didn't wait for her to agree.

***

Reinhard found them near the market, his divine aura a lighthouse in the crowd. Subaru intercepted him with a smile that didn't touch his eyes. "Sword Saint. Fancy a surprise?"

Reinhard's gaze flickered to Emilia, then back. "A surprise?"

"The loot house. Elsa Granhiert. Fun stuff." Subaru's voice was flat, rehearsed. "Come along or don't. But heroes love surprises, right?"

For a heartbeat, Reinhard hesitated. Subaru's nails dug into his palms. *Loop 103,427: Reinhard refuses. Emilia dies. Ice. Reset. Loop 103,428: Reinhard hesitates, then nods.*

The knight nodded.

***

Subaru let them lead. Let Emilia fret over the insignia, let Reinhard's sword arm tense, let Puck chatter about the "strange boy." He'd done this dance too many times. Knew every step, every misstep. When Elsa erupted from the shadows, blades singing, Subaru leaned against the wall and watched.

"Aren't you going to help?" Emilia shouted, ice shards shredding the air.

"You've got this," he said.

And they did. Reinhard's steel flashed. Puck's frost bit deep. Elsa's smile finally cracked as she fled, gutted but alive. *Loop 103,429: Elsa escapes. Loop 103,430: Reinhard severs her spine. Perfect.*

Emilia knelt, retrieving her insignia. "How did you know—"

"Don't." Subaru turned toward the door. "Just don't."

***

Roswaal's mansion loomed like a tomb. Subaru stood before the clown, his posture slack, his eyes dead. "I want lodging. Your servants don't touch me. Agreed?"

Roswaal's grin stretched unnaturally wide. "And what do I *gaaain*, I wonder?"

Subaru met his mismatched eyes. "A show."

***

The hallway was dim, the scent of wax and roses cloying. Rem appeared like a specter, her blue hair shimmering, her eyes widening as the Witch's stench hit her. Subaru didn't slow.

"You—" She gagged, clutching her throat. "What *are* you?"

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. The miasma around him was tangible now, a rot born from thousands of deaths, thousands of resets. Rem retched, collapsing against the wall.

"A guest," he said, and kept walking.

***

His room was sparse. Cold moonlight pooled through the window as Subaru slumped onto the bed. Somewhere, Rem was scrubbing her tongue raw. Somewhere, Roswaal schemed. Somewhere, Echidna laughed.

He closed his eyes, the sunset bleeding across his lids.

*Loop 103,431: Perfect.*

But perfection, he'd learned, was just another kind of hell.